Council Bluffs, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Council Bluffs, IA Summary

Cost of living in Council Bluffs research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Council Bluffs is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Council Bluffs is 90, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Council Bluffs is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Council Bluffs ranks as the #48 cheapest in Iowa out of 80.

  • Council Bluffs ranks as the #1,633 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Council Bluffs is $131,000.

  • The median income in Council Bluffs is $57,683.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
90
Council Bluffs's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Council Bluffs, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Council Bluffs has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Council Bluffs has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Iowa's index of 89.

The standard of living in Council Bluffs ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 80 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Council Bluffs ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Council Bluffs, check out:

48 out of 80
In Iowa
1,633 out of 6,412
In America

Council Bluffs Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Council Bluffs. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Council Bluffs is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Council Bluffs is 100.

  • The Health index in Council Bluffs is 95.

  • The Housing index in Council Bluffs is 69.

  • The Transportation index in Council Bluffs is 93.

  • The Utilities index in Council Bluffs is 94.

Living Expense Council Bluffs Iowa National Average
Overall 90 89 100
Services 96 95 100
Groceries 100 98 100
Health 95 99 100
Housing 69 73 100
Transportation 93 98 100
Utilities 94 94 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Council Bluffs Cost of Living Vs. IA

Council Bluffs, IA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Council Bluffs is $131,000.

  • The Median Rent in Council Bluffs is $884.

  • The Median Income in Council Bluffs is $57,683.

  • The Home Value To Income in Council Bluffs is 2.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Council Bluffs is 0.18x.

Statistic Council Bluffs Iowa United States
Median Home Value $131,000 $160,700 $244,900
Median Rent $884 $845 $1,163
Median Income $57,683 $65,429 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.3x 2.5x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.15x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Council Bluffs, IA
$131,000
Median Home Value
$884
Median Rent
$57,683
Median Income

Council Bluffs, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Council Bluffs Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Council Bluffs Iowa
Shampoo $0.94 $1.06
Movie $10.64 $10.68
Bowling $15.57 $14.67
Haircut $17.96 $18.62
Beauty Salon $34.01 $39.05

Detailed Council Bluffs Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Council Bluffs Iowa
Ground Beef $4.58 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.24 $1.39
Milk $2.0 $2.05
Potatoes $4.03 $3.29
Pizza $10.01 $10.62
Beer $8.97 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.38 $2.34

Detailed Council Bluffs Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Council Bluffs Iowa
Optometrist $114.83 $108.57
Doctor $119.0 $116.17
Dentist $78.66 $99.13

Detailed Council Bluffs Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Council Bluffs Iowa
Gasoline $2.07 $2.22
Tire Balancing $49.36 $50.07

Detailed Council Bluffs Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Council Bluffs Iowa
All Electricity $146.44 $167.67
Phone $194.43 $175.64

Council Bluffs SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
7
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Council Bluffs

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Council Bluffs. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Omaha, NE has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Council Bluffs.

  • Bellevue, NE has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Council Bluffs.

  • Papillion, NE has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Council Bluffs.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Council Bluffs
Omaha, NE 488,059 90 1.0x
Bellevue, NE 62,888 94 1.0x
Papillion, NE 23,875 96 1.1x
La Vista, NE 16,786 94 1.0x
Chalco, NE 10,688 93 1.0x
Plattsmouth, NE 6,558 88 1.0x
Ralston, NE 6,453 89 1.0x
Offutt AFB, NE 5,375 101 1.1x
Glenwood, IA 5,224 89 1.0x

Articles About Iowa

Enjoy The Snack?